CHAPTER 15 THE JUBILEE SEASON
CHAPTER 15 THE JUBILEE SEASON
This Queen and Empress had now been on the throne for nearly half a century，and throughout her land there was a feeling that so rare an event ought to be celebrated with fitting magnificence. The Jubilee feeling was in the air. Every town and every little village wished to mark the time by something that should remain as a lasting memorial. Libraries，hospitals，and museums were founded，and parks were purchased and thrown open to the public. Memorial clocks，statues，schools，and towers sprang into being in every corner of the land，and in all the colonies. “God Save the Queen”was sung in Hindustanee on the shores of Asia and in Hebrew in the synagogues of London. Addresses of congratulation and loyalty came in by the score；representatives of all the colonies flocked to England，as sons and daughters hurried home to a family gathering.
The part to be taken in the celebration by associations，cities，and kingdoms had all been planned when it occurred to the editor of one of the London newspapers that nobody had remembered the children. “Let us give the boys and girls of London a feast and an entertainment in Hyde Park，”he suggested. “You can't do it，”declared the complainers. “It is a foolish，wicked scheme. There will be a crush，accidents will happen，and hundreds will be injured.”Nevertheless，people subscribed so generously that soon all the money needed had been provided. When the children came to the Park，they were taken in groups to great tents；and when they came out，each one had a paper bag which contained“a meat pie，a piece of cake，a bun，and an orange.”Their little hands must have been full，for besides these，each one received a little portrait of the Queen and a Jubilee mug. The mugs saw hard service among the thirsty little folk，for all day milk，lemonade，and ginger beer were free to every child who presented his empty mug. The children were amused by all sorts of games and shows. Dukes and princes and representatives of powerful kingdoms came to see the good time；and at last the Queen herself came and gave a special greeting，not to the grown folk，but every word of it to the children. Long before bedtime had come，every one of the twenty-seven thousand and small people was safe in his own home，and the complainers complained no more.
June 21，1887，was“Jubilee Day.”Fifty years had passed since the young girl had been aroused from her sleep to hear that she was Queen of a powerful nation；and now，in all the glory of her half century of successful rule，she was to go to Westminster Abbey to thank God for his help and protection.
She now represented，not a kingdom，but an enormous empire，and every corner of it wished to do her honor. The streets of London were spanned by triumphal arches. They were decorated with flowers，banners，silk flags and hangings. Staging for seats had been put up all along the route，and every seat was filled. Fabulous prices were paid for a house，a window or even a few square inches on a rough board. Thousands of people had been out since sunrise to secure a place to see the grand procession；and at last it came in sight，moving slowly toward the multitude that waited with excited devotion to the noble woman who was the symbol of home and country.
First came the carriages containing the dark-faced princes of India，dressed in cloth of gold，and shaded with turbans glittering with priceless jewels. Many carriages followed，filled with kings，queens，crown princes，and grand dukes. There were units of horsemen，aides-decamp，an escort of Life Guards，and a guard of honor composed of princes riding three abreast，the Queen's sons，grandsons，sons-in-law and grandsons-in-law. Towering up among them was the superb figure of Prince Fritz，Crown Prince of a united Germany. His uniform was of pure white，his helmet of steel，and on it was the Prussian eagle with spread wings. At last，the woman for whom all were waiting came in sight. The splendid robes of her crowning ceremony were fifty years behind her，but even in her plainer dress she looked every inch a queen. The Princess Alexandra and the Crown Princess of Germany were with her. For twenty-five years the sovereign had so rarely appeared in public that to her subjects this was more than a mere royal procession，it was the coming back to them of their Queen. A great wave of devotion and loyalty swept over the hearts of the crowd. “Not the Queen，but my Queen，”they said to themselves，and such a greeting was given her as few monarchs have received.
The Abbey had been filled long before. Rich strains of music were coming from the organ. There was a moment's silence，then the silver trumpets of the royal horn players were blown，and the church echoed with a piece by Handel. The Queen entered. She was preceded by archbishops，bishops，and deans，all in the most elaborate dress of their offices. The guard of royal princes walked slowly up the aisle，three across，the Prince of Wales and his two brothers coming last. Slowly，the Queen to whom all the world was doing honor，ascended the steps of the throne. The vast crowd was silent，and stood for a moment with heads bowed in respect.
A short，simple service followed of praise and thanksgiving. Then her sons and daughters，who had been grouped around the Queen，came forward one at a time to bow before her and kiss her hand. As they rose，she gave each of them a kiss，not of state，but of warm，motherly affection that in this crowning moment of her career could not be satisfied with the restrictions of ceremony.
That evening，there were fireworks in all the principal cities. England shone literally from shore to shore，for a beacon fire was lighted on Malvern Hills，and in a moment，as its distant gleam shone on other hills，other beacons blazed，till from Land's End to the Shetland Islands it was happily written in letters of fire that for fifty years the realm had been under the rule of a pure and upright woman.
At last，the day was fully ended. “I am very happy，”said the Queen；and well she might be，for this day had shown her that she was sovereign，not only of the land and its treasures，but of the loving hearts of her subjects.
注释
jubilee[´dʒubiliː]n. 50周年大庆
fitting[´fitiŋ]adj. 适合的，相称的
in the air广泛的，流行的
e.g. Excitement was in the air. 到处充满了兴奋之情。
throw open突然打开，开放
Hindustan[ˌhindu´stαːni]印度（也称印度斯坦，印度历史上的区域，在不同时期有不同内涵，有时只包括恒河高原上部或整个印度北部，该词也用来表示整个印度。）
Hebrew[´hiːbruː]n. 犹太人
synagogue[´sinəɡɔɡ]n. 犹太教会堂，犹太教
by the score数十个，许多
score[skɔː]n. 二十
flock[flɔk]v. 聚集，群集
association[ə´səusi´eiʃ∂n]n. 有共同兴趣活动或目的组织团体
wicked[´wikid]adj. 坏的，恶劣的
subscribe[səb´skraib]v. 捐款
generously[´dʒenərəsli]adv. 慷慨的
bun[bʌn]n. 小圆面包
mug[mʌɡ]n. （筒装）饮杯，杯子
lemonade[ˌlemə´neid]n. 柠檬水
ginger[´dʒindʒə]n. 姜，姜味
span[spæn]v. 横越，跨越
triumphal[trai´ʌmfəl]adj. 胜利的，凯旋的，祝捷的
e.g. a triumphal arch凯旋门；a triumphal ode胜利赞歌
staging[´steidʒiŋ]n. 临时的平台
fabulous[´fæbjuləs]adj. 惊人的，难以置信的
secure[si´kjuə]v. 确保，取得
multitude[´mʌltitjuːd]n. 群众，民众
turban[´təːbən]n. （穆斯林的）头巾
glitter[´ɡlitə]vi. 闪光，闪烁
crown prince皇太子（君主已选定的王位继承人）
abreast[ə´brest]adv. 并肩地，并排地
tower[´tauə]vi. 高出，（喻）胜过
e.g. He towers over other poets of the day. 他胜过那一时期的其他诗人。
helmet[´helmit]n. 头盔，钢盔
rich[ritʃ]adj. 丰润的，令人愉悦的
strain[strein]n. （常用strains）旋律，曲调
e.g. melodic strains of the violin小提琴优美的旋律
horn[hɔːn]n. 喇叭，萨克斯管，管乐器
Handel汉德尔·乔治·弗雷德里克，（1685—1759）德国出生的作曲家，作品包括英文清唱剧弥赛亚（1922年）和管弦乐曲水上音乐（1717年）
...simple service followed of praise and thanksgiving. 该短语中of引导的定语修饰句中service，因谓语followed提前而后置。
...in this crowning moment of her career是插入定语从句that could not be satisfied...之中的时间状语。
crowning[´krauniŋ]adj. 最高的，无比的
literally[´lit∂rəli]adv. 完全地，确实地
beacon[´biːkən]n. 烟火，灯塔
Malvern Hills莫尔文山脉：英格兰中西部的一系列山峰，最高点为伍尔斯山，高一千三百九十四英尺。
Land's End地端岬：英格兰西南部的一个半岛，是英国的最西端，位于康沃尔郡的沿海地带。
Shetland[´ʃetlənd]n. 舍得兰群岛（英国苏格兰东北部一郡）
upright[´ʌprait]adj. 正直的，诚实的